Best Questions to Ask During a Commercial Cleaning Consultation

The consultation, often called a walkthrough, is your best chance to see how a cleaning company thinks. A few minutes of preparation makes the meeting far more useful.

Before the meeting

• Gather square footage, restroom count and floor types
• List your top three priorities (for example, restroom hygiene, break room, entry appearance)
• Note any problems with your current service
• Decide your preferred hours and access method
• List areas that are off limits, such as server rooms or supply closets

Questions about your building

1. What do you notice about this space that affects the price?
2. How long will each visit take, and how many people will be here?
3. What would you do differently for this type of facility?

Questions about the work

1. What is on the checklist for this building? Can I see a sample?
2. What is included and what is extra?
3. How do you handle touchpoints and disinfection? See disinfection basics.
4. Which products will you use? Can I see the safety data sheets?

Questions about people and quality

1. Who will clean here and how are they trained?
2. How do you verify the work? Who inspects it and how often?
3. How are missed items reported and fixed, and how fast?
4. Who is my point of contact?

Questions about the business

1. Can you provide a certificate of insurance?
2. How long have you served buildings like mine?
3. What is your client retention?
4. Can I speak with a reference from a similar facility?

Before you leave

• Confirm when you will receive a written quote
• Ask what the next step is and who to call with questions
• Write down your impressions while they are fresh

See also how to interview commercial cleaning companies.

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